Dar es Salaam is a city of approximately 4 million people (according to Eddie, our taxi driver/tour guide/restaurant picker/bodyguard). The city is clearly African but has an Arab influence and about 50% of the population is Muslim). We ended up checking into a hotel located in the center of the city, away from the tourist area and in the middle of local life. There were literally no other tourists in this area so walking through the streets would generate a lot of attention from vendors, drunks and thiefs.
The locals would stare, yell, follow us for blocks trying to sell us things or just babble in Swahili about god knows what. I always thought coming to Africa that Jacob would be the “exotic” one that people would be interested in but when I was with him, they didn’t even seem to realize he was there. I think my light skin colour was strange to them because both men and women would stare at me intensely as I walked by. The men would all brush against my butt with their hands when they walked by which obviously made me quite uncomfortable. The city was a lot like Cairo, there were so many people on the streets, so much noise from cars, people, screaming and loud music all night long. The only thing that Jacob attracted was pickpocketers. On 2 separate occasions (once at night and once during the day) a group of 2 guys would try to get whatever they could out of his pocket. 1 guy would pretend to be drunk harassing Jacob and while he tried to push them off, the second guy would sneak up behind him and try to get into his pocket. I think Jacob was aware of what was happening both times so he was able to avoid having anything stolen.
We were constantly on edge especially the first night when we had to walk back to our hotel after dinner which was a few blocks away. The street was filled with men, many who were drunk or drugged, and there were no street lights so it was completely dark except for some candles which were being used by locals selling vegetables on the ground. Even during the day, it was difficult to walk just one block without being accompanied by an entourage of people trying to sell shit they don’t own like ferry tickets or safari tours (they get a cut if they bring you in the front door of the booking office). The intensity of this city and the people made me really uncomfortable to the point where I would get really homesick and want to go back to Montreal. After 2 nights we decided to leave to Zanzibar to enjoy a bit more of laid back atmosphere and finally some beaches that we can swim in.
We don’t have too many pictures because we were reluctant to take out our camera in many of the places we walked through.
 |
| View from hotel room |
 |
| View from hotel room |
 |
| Fish market |
Gotta watch out for those sea urchins in the water on the Zanzibar beaches! And Lungi, I know exactly how you felt (not that I had my bum groped by men in Mali!) ... sometimes things get TOO intense!
ReplyDeleteAwe Lungs hahaha I can't help but laugh at the bum thing, though I know...it sucks! Anyway cities aren't for me either, especially busy dirty ones with lots of venders, I think I cried everyday in Cairo, so I know exactly how you felt. Hopefully you will spend the rest of your trip in naturally beautiful peaceful places with lots of animals!
ReplyDeleteLove you, thanks again for this blog, I LOVE IT!
By the way I will be in Montreal from August 4th to 18th, I'll see you then!
Hello, I work with Jessica in Montreal..I'm following your travels..you guy's are troopers! Are you still, heading re Ghana?? If so am on Facebook Angelina Abbew, I have contacts with Niimms Ventures...tour guide of Ghana...tour the Gold Coast, visit old British slave porre etc. I mentioned to Nii, about your great African adventure..look him up on Facebook, he is hopefully awaiting your contact. Don't be afraid to ask for a good package!! BLESSINGS Angelina
ReplyDeleteNiinns*Ventures*Ghana...Angelina
ReplyDeleteHi Jacob and Lungi. You must really think of going for the more up-market tourist venues and a good travel agency or guide, otherwise you are not going to enjoy the rest of your trip in this part of the world and you are not going to see what you should see! Take it from me! By the way the town where you changed your bus in Zambia was Lusaka, the capital city. The national park which you travelled through was the Selous National Park where last year the flames licked at our railway coaches because of all the veld fires. The exotic bird was an Ostrich. The leather makes good handbags, the plumes are used for the decor of ballet dancers sometimes, one of their eggs is equivalent to 24 chicken eggs and whilst they are filled you can drive over them with a tractor without breaking them and the meat is sweet and tender. Ingrid and Helmut
ReplyDeleteHi Lungi. You should learn from your experience in Dar. (and I agree totally with Ingrid:)it's better to spend a bit more in this part of the world and have some comfort and security (even if you have to cut a couple of weeks/countries from your trip.) Glad you're in Zanzibar now..Keep safe and enjoy yourselves.
ReplyDelete